Corn-planter



(Ho Mndel.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

G. W. CAMPBELL.

CORN PLANTER.

Patented Jain. T, 1896.

#NDRLW. EGRMIML PHOTDUMOWASHINGT'JN. D C

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. W. CAMPBELL.

CORN PLANTER.

Patented J an Z 8, 1896.

ANDRIW ECRMMM. PHOTD-UTNOYWASHI UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE \V. CAMPBELL, OF KENTON, OHIO.

CORN-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 553,728, dated January 28, 1896.

Application filed April 1, 1895. Serial No. 543,960. (No model.)

To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. CAMPBELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kenton, in the county of Hardin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and use-v ful Improvements in Corn-Planters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in corn-planters; and the invention consists in the various constructions and combinations of parts, which will appear from the following description and the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are represented by similar letters of reference, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a corn-planter embodying my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views of portions of the dropping devices. Fig. 4 is a partial plan view, also partly in section, of .a portion of the devices shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail View of a portion of the actuating devices for the seed-dropping mechanism. Fig. 6 is a detail view of a portion of the shoe.

In the drawings, a a represents the main frame, preferably constructed of flat iron or similar structural metal. On this frame is mounted the usual seed-hoppers b, of which there are two, though only one is shown in the drawings. 1; is a feed-shaft connected to the usual dropping devices in the hopper b, through the medium of a beveled gear 12 Journaled at the front of the main frame a is a shaft 0, which has at each end crank-arms c, to each of which is pivoted the front end of one of the shoes 0 said shoes being connected at the rear ends to a link 0 carrying thereon a spring 0 The main axle d of the machine is arranged near the rear of the main frame, and is preferably square in cross-section. 'It is supported in suitable bearings d on the frame, which are provided with sleeves (Z each of which has a square opening to fit on said shaft and is round on its outer periphery to turn in the bearing d. The supporting and sleeves. Located between the wheel-sections is an arm 6 which has a square opening and fits on the axle d. This arm 6 is provided at its outer end with a perforation which fits over the link 0 At or near the center of the frame and secured to the axle (Z is a lifting-lever d having the customary spring-bolt (1 adapted to engage in a notched segment d supported on a suitable portion of the frame. Extending from the front to the rear of the machine and connected at one end to the hand-lever d and at the other to an arm c is a bar (Z whose function is to rock the shaft 0 as the lifting-lever is moved back and forth so as to occupy different positions of adjustment with reference to the segment (1 The link 0 connecting the arm a with the shoe 0 is provided at the top with a pin or other suit- :ment and different degrees of pressure exerted thereon by moving the hand-lever d to different positions of adjustment and securing it by the aid of the segment (Z As the hand-lever is moved the shaft 0 will be oscillated,which,through themedium of the crankarm 0, will cause the front end of the shoe to be raised or lowered to correspond to the different positions of the rear end of the shoe. Vhen the shoe is in a working position it will be seen that it is held in such position by a yielding pressure so that in passing over any hard substance the shoe may yield upwardly to accommodate itself thereto.

Extending downwardly from the hopper I) through the shoe 0 is a conduit f. This conduit f has pivoted therein a valve f, the upper end of which is formed in the nature of a tube f Extending downwardly from the bottom of the hopper is a tubular projection f and in the top of the tube f of the Valve f" is alug or shelf f which extends inwardly so as to partially close the top of the tube f The valve f is further proyided with an upwardlyprojecting wing f, which extends .above the shelf f and when the valve is moved on its pivotal center the wing f is adapted to close the rear side of the tubular projection f while the shelf f 4 closes the bottom of said tubular projection, thus forming a pocket within which a hill of corn may be deposited from the seeddropping devices. Means are provided for vibrating the valve f each time the seed-dropping devices are turned sufficiently to drop a hill of corn therefrom. This is accomplished by supplying on the feed-shaft b a star or ratchet wheel b having a series of notches and projections adapted to engage a pivoted vibrating lever 12", the opposite end of which engages in a notched projection f on the side of the valve f. A spring 11 is adapted to keep the end of the vibrating lever b in engagement with the wheel b the construction being such that the oscillating lever b engaging with the notches in said wheel, has a tendencyto arrestsaid wheel at the proper point and retain it in the position which closes the valve f at the bottom of the conduit f. Means are provided for partially rotating the shaft 1) each time a hill is desired to be dropped. The means which I have shown for this purpose are shown in Figs. 4: and 5, and consist essen tially of a pivoted hand-lever g, having trunnions 9' adapted to rest in suitable bearings 1 extending from the hopper I). This hand lever g is provided at the bottom with a roller g and stands in its normal position at the side of a winged cam 71 secured to the feedshaft 1). This cam is provided witha number of wings 71, which extend in opposite directions from each end, each succeeding wing being inclined in the opposite direction, and the end of each wing being arranged to overlap the end of the next wing. The lever g is adapted to be vibrated in a vertical plane parallel to, but at one side of a vertical plane passing through the shaft b. The roller projects laterally from the lever g toward the shaft 1), so as to engage under the wings h on the cam 7L. As the lever is vibrated in one direction, therefore, the roller, operating on the wing with which it is engaged, tends to elevate said wing by the vibration of the lever, and thus revolves the shaft. As the lever is operated in the other direction it engages under the end of the next succeeding wing, and thus further revolves the shaft in the same direction. There are as many wings on the cam as there are notches on the wheel I). As a result the dropping devices in the hopper are caused to move a portion of a revolution corresponding to the number of notches in the wheel Zr. The valve is caused to vibrate a corresponding number of times. At each partial rotation of the shaft the valve f is oscillated so as to open at the bottom, which brings the shelf f under the chamber f and thus retains the corn which is dropped from the seed-dropping devices momentarily in said chamber. Just as the movement is completed the valve f is closed by the action of the spring 5 and the hill which is retained in the chamber f is dropped down and is caught by the lower end of the valve f and retained until the valve is again opened.

To provide against lifting the shoe to such an extent that the conduit f would be exposed at the lower end, I provide on said conduit a projection f adapted to engage with the side of the shoe 0 when the same has reached the limit of its upward movement.

To provide for discharging the grain from the feeding-disks I employ a feeding-wheel or ejector 2', substantially as shown in my prior patent, No. 530,326, dated December 4, 1894, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, said feeding-wheel being journaled in a housing 7," and provided with spokes 11 to enter the perforations in the seed-disk. I11 my prior patent I have shown and described this feeding-wheel as j ournaled rigidly in the housing. In the present case I journal said feeding-wheel in slotted bearings i so that the weight only of the feeding-wheel is inserted on the seed to expel the same from the disk. In the event that any foreign substance, therefore, should come in contact with the feedingnvheel which could not be expelled thereby the feeding-wheel will be elevated in the slotted openings 1?, and thus prevent breakage of parts.

By the arrangement thus described I have provided a corn-planter which is simple and effective in its operation. By the arrangement of the liftingdever and connection with the axle and the arms thereon I have provided a simple and effective means for raising and lowering the shoes, at the same time utilizing a portion of the devices as the main axle of the machine on which the covering-wheels run.

It is obvious that other means for rotating the feed-shaft than those described maybe employed. Check-row devices, such as are well known, may be connected to the feedshaft for this purpose, if desired. By rotatin g the shaft continuously the machine could be operated as a drill instead of a hill-drop.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a corn-planter, a main frame and axle thereon, and covering-wheels journalcd on said axle, a lifting-lever connected to said axle, and projecting arms also connected to said axle, hinged shoes, and link connections from said arms to said shoes, substantially as specified.

2. The combination with the hinged shoes, and pivoted links connected thereto, of a main axle, projecting arms on said axle, coveringwheels also journaled on said axle, said covering-wheels being made in sections with the arms located between said sections, and means as described for rotating said axle to raise and lower said shoes, substantially as specified.

In a corn-planter having cov'erin g-wheels made in two parts as described, a main axle extending across said planter and furnishing the support on which said covering-wheels are j ournaled, a hand-lever connected to said axle, and projecting arms also connected to said axle between the parts of the covering-wheels, and a connection from said arms to the pivoted shoes, substantially as specified.

4. A main frame, a main axle supported in bearings thereon, and a covering-wheel formed in two parts journaled on said axle, a projecting arm secured to said axle between the parts of said covering-wheel, a hinged shoe, a link connection from said arm to said shoe, and a spring on said link, a hand-lever on said axle and means for holding said handlever in diiferent positions of adj ustment,substantially as specified. p

5. In a corn-planter, a main frame, ahinged shoe, a shaft, having a lifting-lever, journaled on said frame, a projecting arm on said shaft, a connection from said arm to the rear of said shoe, a crank-arm to which the front of said shoe is connected, and means for connecting said lever to said crank-arm whereby the pivotal point at the front end of said shoe is changed as the shoe is raised or lowered, substantially as specified.

6. The combination with a main frame, a shaft journaled at the front thereof, crankarms on said shaft, and shoes hinged to said crank-arms, a main axle also j ournaled on said main frame, a lifting-lever on said axle, and projecting arms also on said axle, and a connection from said armsto the rear ends of said hinged shoes, and means for connecting the lifting-lever to the shaft having the crankarms, substantially as specified.

7. The combination with a main frame, an axle journaled thereon, a covering wheel or wheels made in two parts also journaled on said axle, a projecting arm on said axle between the parts of said covering-wheel, a lifting-lever on said axle, a connection from said arm to a hinged shoe, and a connection from said lifting-lever to a rock-shaft to which the front end of said shoe is pivoted, substantially as specified.

8. The combination with a hopper, and a conduit leading therefrom, a hinged shoe into which said conduit projects, means for raising and lowering said shoe, and a projection on said conduit adapted to contact with said shoe, substantially as specified.

9. In a corn-planter, the combination with a feed box or hopper, and a conduit leading therefrom, a vibrating valve in said conduit having a tubular portion, horizontal and vertical wings at the top of said valve, a chamber formed at the bottom of said hopper having an open side as described, said horizontal and vertical wings on said valve being adapted to close the bottom and side of said chamber, respectively, as the valve is vibrated, substantially as specified.

10. In a corn-planter, a seed-hopper, and a feed-shaft operating the dropping devices in said hopper, a pivoted lever j ournaled in open bearing on said hopper, and a winged cam on said feed-shaft, a laterally-projecting roller on said lever extending therefrom at the side of said shaft so as to engage under the wings of said cam, the wings of said cam being adapted to overlap and arranged in opposite directions, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of March, A. I). 1895.

GEORGE W. CAMPBELL.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH T. SHIPLEY, DANIEL CAVIS. 

